Kaepernick's New London family rooting for 'Niners

Jan. 11, 2013

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has aunts, uncles and grandparents in New London who will be cheering for his success this Saturday as the 49ers host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs. / Associated Press

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Take a drive down Martin Street in New London and it becomes clear that not everyone in Packer country will be rooting for Green Bay in its divisional playoff game Saturday.

A new San Francisco 49ers flag waves from the home of Cherie Kaepernick, the grandmother of 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“We got her a new 49ers flag for Christmas,” said John Kaepenick, Cherie’s son and Colin’s uncle. “She wore the other one out.”

Cherie, John and Rand Kaepernick — another son of Cherie’s and an uncle of Colin’s — will be glued to their television screens Saturday night at their homes in New London when the 49ers host the Packers at Candlestick Park.

Colin, who was born in Milwaukee, is the son of Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a pair of 1973 New London High School graduates. The couple adopted Colin when he was just 5 weeks old and lived in Fond du Lac before relocating to Turlock, Calif., when Colin was 4.

Colin has additional aunts, uncles and grandparents in New London on his mother’s side of the family. While they have been longtime Packer fans, the green and gold won’t get the family’s support Saturday night.

“It’s a little weird because you’ve been a Packer fan all your life and we’re still Packer fans,” said Rand Kaepernick, Colin’s godfather. “People might think, ‘Gee, what a turncoat.’ But I always say, ‘family comes first.’ I’m rooting for Colin.”’

None of the New London Kaepernicks plan to attend the game. Rand would love to hop a plane to San Francisco but his travel budget has been compromised by an upcoming trip he will take to Italy, where he will be joined by Rick and Teresa.

Family members from New London attended the regular-season opener between the 49ers and Packers at Lambeau Field in September, taking part in a large tailgate party prior to the game. Colin, though, had only a handful of snaps in that game and didn’t replace Alex Smith as the 49ers’ starting quarterback until midway through San Francisco’s Week 9 game against St. Louis.

Colin, a more athletic and dynamic player than Smith, will make his eighth NFL start Saturday and has guided the 49ers to a 5-2 mark as a starter, compiling a quarterback rating of 98.3.

“I was kind of thinking back at that season opener, that this could happen again,” Rand said. “It’s pretty neat the way it worked out.”